RIP Kiyoshi Kitagawa

[Hardbopjazz]

Bass player and longtime member of the Kenny Barron Trio passed away on 28 April. Rest in peace Kiyoshi.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Oh man... he was such a big part of Kenny Barron's trio. Great bassist. RIP Kiyoshi.

[JSngry]

Saw him with KB last summer in Detroit and he was rock solid 

RIP

[sgcim]

RIP

[mhatta]

While there have been a few Japanese bassists who moved to the United States, Kitagawa was the most successful of them all. He was a cheerful guy from the Kansai region (Japan has regional differences too; in American terms, he was sort of like someone from Chicago). He wasn’t even 70 yet, so it was a tragic death. RIP.

[tranemonk]

On 4/30/2026 at 8:24 PM, mhatta said:

While there have been a few Japanese bassists who moved to the United States, Kitagawa was the most successful of them all. He was a cheerful guy from the Kansai region (Japan has regional differences too; in American terms, he was sort of like someone from Chicago). He wasn’t even 70 yet, so it was a tragic death. RIP.

When I saw him with Kenny Barron a few months ago, he didn't look 70 nor frail. I wonder if his death was sudden and unexpected or was holding in a fatal illness like Ken Peplowski, this year? RIP so sad for his family and friends. 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have read that Kiyoshi's death was sudden and unexpected. 

Ken Peplowski's cancer was in remission. It has been reported that Ken suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep. Chemo does stress one's heart, so having a heart attack is not really "unexpected". It is a possibility which unfortunately happened to Ken.

[mikeweil]

R.I.P.